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NCAA Tournament: Ferris State 2 - DU 1 FINAL

(above) DU had plenty of opportunities in the third period but the puck was often an inch or two out of reach

The University of Denver fell to Ferris State on Friday afternoon in Green Bay, Wisconsin. With the 2-1 loss, DU was eliminated from the NCAA Playoffs.

After a scoreless first period, Ferris State forward Jordie Johnston netted the game’s first goal in the second period.

A potential game tying goal by Chris Knowlton was disallowed because referees thought the puck was frozen by the goaltender. Replay showed the puck never was wrapped up, but the whistle blew before Knowlton knocked it in.

The score would remain 1-0 until 2:54 into the third period when Bulldog freshman defenseman Simon Denis netted his first collegiate goal on a wrist shot.

DU was behind 2-0 before mounting a rally behind a Drew Shore third period goal. DU had many opportunities to tie the game in the third period with the puck dangling several times in the Ferris State crease. Each time Ferris State rose to the challenge and thwarted the Pioneers best effort.

Tough tough loss for DU today and a very frustrating way to end the season. I can't believe no one else on the team besides Drew Shore could put the puck in the net. But that's the way it goes. The Pios had their share of chances.

I would say FSU's ability to shut down the DU PP was key. Their overall defense was great as was their goal tending. Tough way to end this season, which will always be the "what might have been" year for DU hockey. I'm really hopeful that before I die (which could be any minute now) DU will go into the post season the least banged up team instead of the most.

Maybe the Pioneers didnt respect Ferris State, which had been high in the polls all year. Was tough watching that puck go through Zucker's feet in the last minute. That's not a play he'd miss in February.

A few months ago, with Brittain out, Murray hurt, Bennett on fire and then gone, I did not envision the Pioneers in the NCAAs. It was an exciting season while we watched the team surprise us with last minute and overtime wins. I`ll never forget Salazar`s, Zucker`s and Larazza`s goals last week. I`m ready for a break from the drama, and I`ll be psyched for next October.

Congrats to the boys for playing hard with all the injuries. A fun season that had its ups and downs. An extremely talented team that never once all season fielded a healthy line-up. Like Old Pio said I would love to see a DU team at this point in the season be able to field a healthy team.

ordemaposithZucker played well but it was obvious that he was hurting. Too many guys on I.R. cost us.

The good news is that we only have one more year to play the destruct tournament up in St.Paul. Then the new big ten league can have that date. Over the years ,all I have seen is going up there has worked against us.

Up until the end, I thought the cardiac kids would do it one more time, and we'd be in OT one more time. All in all, this team showed me a lot of grit despite incredible adversity. Great season, Pioneers, although not one that was easy on my heart.

Jason Zucker had 3 true scoring chances, but was robbed by absolutely stellar play by the FSU Goalkeeper. Everyone knows that game shoulda' been 4-2 in favor of Denver. Just wasn't meant to be. Sometimes you're the broccoli stalks; some times you're the garbage disposal.......This loss - metaphorically - meaning being eliminated - at whatever league or skill level - is never easy.

Another Gwoz flame out. Love the guy, but he either wins it all, or wins nothing. Injuries a convenient and real excuse, but he doesn't have his teams ready for the ncaas, and needs to change his approach. For those who say it was a good or great season, what was so good or great about it, except for some exciting OT games? Another disappointment, in my opinion, and not a good season by any stretch.

Anon, it's easy to sit in the peanut gallery and take shots at the coach. Agreed, injuries are part of the game but DU has been hit especially hard this year. No excuse, just a fact. It was a rollercoaster ride, some great highs and some tough lows. I think it took a lot of guts for Zucker, Didier and Knowlton to suit up this afternoon.

So I will sit and wait until October and probably go into hockey withdrawal.

* Only team to sweep Minnesota all season long.* Undefeated against every conference champion except CCHA [FSU]* Amazing come from behind victories all year long* Eliminated defending NCAA champion in OT of WCHA playoffs* Beat BC in Conte* Never swept all season long* Another 20 win season* Watched several exciting NHL prospects take their games to the next level

DG, some solid points, but the fact is this team and this program is measured in large part by what happens in the post season, and once again on the big stage we lose to a team that is supposedly less talented and skilled, but that is able to shut us down. One year of that...ok. two years of that...ok. But its officially a pattern and it will happen again unless Gwoz changes his preparation for the ncaa tournament. He's a great coach and the injuries were a real factor. But its been too long since DU fans have been complimentary of Gwoz's coaching job in the national tournament. That's all. Bitterness is already fading, and I appreciate some good games this year. But the fact, is we should realistically expect more from our team on the national stage. Next year!!!

Losing in the NCAAs always stings, but that doesn't take away from what was, in my opinion, a great year for DU. This team was wracked by injuries for almost the entire season. When you look at the list of guys who missed lots of time---Bennett, Brittain, Ryder, and Makowski---it's brutal. Then throw in a banged up Zucker, Phillips, Knowlton and whoever else. No question this team accomplished a lot and has a lot to be proud of. 25 wins, a shot at the Broadmoor, lots of exciting wins, and the growth of several key young players were all highlights.

Over the past couple seasons I've been really pissed at DU for their 1 and done exits. This time though, with everything they had to go through to even get a bid... I have to say I'm proud of this group of kids. They fought till the end. Sure they could of played better here and there, but they did at least what this team is built to do and that is get into the tournament.

Still I have to wonder... what is DU missing? We could lose in any round of the WCHA Playoffs, Win the WCHA Playoffs, be beat up, healthy, play too much or too little... this team besides last season are consistently going out 1 and done and where CC will proudly raise a banner for that, it's not acceptable for DU. What can this team do to break that wall and make the main event? I have to wonder.

Anyways it sucks no more DU hockey till October, but it is getting near that time of year. To our seniors... thanks for giving it your all and way to represent. To the rest I hope we see them all back next season, healthy and ready to own the last season in the WCHA.

It was a fun season. DU did not really underachieve, given the injuries to three of the team's key players - Bennett, our most talented player, Makowski, our most versatle defenseman and Brittain, our most talented goalie.

That said, they also did not overachieve, either.

A ninth ranked team is exactly what you get when you strip said team with the injury load they had, which was excessive by any measure.

In every NCAA Tournament game in the past five years DU fell behind, giving up the first two goals of the game, except in the North Dakota loss last year where they gave up the first goal before scoring.

To me that's a case of teams playing not to lose. No matter what the cause, falling behind in these games is a lethal mistake.

DG is right that there were a number of positives this season, but lots of disappointments too.Like, losing to teams such as Alabama Huntsville...Like, no Gold Pan...Like, no McNaughton Cup...Like, no Broadmoor trophy...Like, going out in the first round of the Regionals...

Great season for the boys and thanks to the departing seniors for 4 years (or 5) of hard work and great successs. It's been great to be a Pioneer fan during their tenure.

I think the team had a great season. "Nothing" to show for it, but they had their backs against the wall since January and stepped up time and time again in the most crucial situations and kept moving that pairwise ranking up. I thought this team was dead in the water at certain points in the season. I'm always an optimist, but there were times in the season when I thought they had zero chance of making the tournament.

They proved me wrong in dramatic fashion and had some very exciting moments along the way.

For the injuries, so frustrating. I agree with a poster above who said they are not an excuse, just a fact. No excuses, Ferris played great and earned the W yesterday.

The frustrating part of injuries as a fan...I wish I could have watched that game with Bennett, Makowski and Phillips in. I think we are in the Frozen Four a very high percentage of the time.

And, it seems that every year (with maybe one exception) in the past 7 or so we have had a top 3 forward or a top 2 d-man be out for a very significant stretch of the season, if not the entire season.

I know every team has to deal with injuries and you have to overcome them, but it really seems to me that DU has been extremely unlucky in the injury category. It's one thing to overcome injuries to 3rd and 4th line guys, or 4th or 6th d-man, it's an entirely different ball game to overcome the injuries that DU is presented with.

I can't think of one sport where you can say to a team, we're going to take out arguably your most talented forward (i.e. Bennett first round draft pick), and your #1 d-man, and that team have great success. Take Brady off the Patriots (that happened one year and Patriots didn't make the playoffs). Mavericks without Dirk. Cardinals without Pujols. The UND DOT line being reduced to the DO, or TO line. You get my drift. There's probably an exception, but they aren't the rule.

Now begins the long wait. Return all of our guys, we are probably a preseason top 5, if not #1. Lose Zucker, Bennett and Shore, we might have a "rebuilding" year and not have to worry about losing in the first round.

Just got done watching the replay of the final five championship.How come Zucker didn't come out to receive is all-tournament award?He must of been in the locker room pouting about getting pounded by UND.

DG, crazy stat about always falling behind on the ncaa games. I hadn't thought about that, but it's a glaring statistic that Gwoz must focus on. Zucker is a warrior, I'm so glad he chose DU. Would love the opportinity to have a full season of Bennett on the ice, like we had with Zucker this year. Gonna miss Ryder big time. Best hitter I've ever seen at DU.

Yesterday sucked, but starting to appreciate the season a bit more today.

Did you guys catch the UMass game? It ended on a video replay review, and the refs were WCHA refs. Don't know the one guys' name, but I recognized him from DU games. He called it a goal, and video confirmed it.....

I agree. That's an amazing stat about giving up the first two goals of every first round game the past 5 years. You'd think "dumb luck" would go our favor at least once. But if you factor in that we were the "favorites" in every year except for this one, it's a disturbing trend.

In my scientific opinion, the hockey gods are making us repay the good fortune we had in 2004. I thought our debts had finally been repaid after last year. Clearly, we still had some debt left to pay back this year. Maybe next year we finally get to start with a clean sheet.

Yeah, it's funny - whoulda' thunk; just like I became a Peyton Manning fan overnight, suddenly I'm the biggest UM fan in Colorado. LETS GO GOPHERS! May God bless the state of hockey. Minnesota must must MUST win tomorrow. Make Herb Brooks proud!

someone made a comment regarding the officials being from the wcha for the umass/union game .watched the game,3-2 late for union with open net,puck in umass zone comes out into neutral zone,union getting out to touch up, linesman shown on replay stradling blue line with arm up for offsides while union player still 10 feet in,shot,score,review, goal stood,whats up with that,anybody?

Don't get me wrong...I can't stand UND, but Minnesota thinks they are God's gift to college hockey (and so do all the announcers). Their fans literally have no idea that DU, UND, and Michigan all have more titles. They just think they are the best. It's unreal! They haven't done a damn thing since they went back to back almost 10 years ago. DU is out so if I am going to cheer for a WCHA team it's going to be Duluth. GO DOGS! I hate UND, MN, and BC!!

Having said all that, Minnesota is (in my opinion) is the most talented team left. However, in watching the game yesterday I noticed that they can play very undisciplined which may come back to bite them. Sue are on a freaking roll. Remind me of Duluth last year. As much as I HATE to say it!! Sue win 5-4 late in the 3rd. Sue meet their maker in the form of BC or Duluth in Tampa and Chokestal gets oh so close once again without sealing the deal.

Well at least the Sioux have a shot at the Frozen Four. DU doesn't. Would I put money on them winning today? Hell no!! BUT they were 10th in the WCHA in Nov and we are playing today in the 2nd round of the tourney....I may not bet against them either....

I wish that every October, the teams who faced each other in the previous 16 team field, could be scheduled against each other again for just one regular season game, with the home team being the one who got eliminated 7 months earlier. I would love to see DU get a crack at FSU, fully healthy and in regular season mode.

Anon. 11:43, sorry if my wording was unclear. When I said "beating the Sue, as usual, when it really counts" was not referring to Minnesota specifically. It was referring to the fact that the Sue lose when it really counts, as usual, no matter which team they are playing. And I also need to clarify that in no way am I a fan of Minnesota, I simply dislike the Sue exponentially more.

As for "at least the Sue have a shot at the FF. DU doesn't," I wonder how far the Nodaks would have gone with 9 players seriously injured, some of whom, like Zucker, were playing without the ability to shoot the puck.

I would agree that we aren't going to win a NC. However, we still have a chance which is better than being out already. DU....injured or not should have beaten Ferris State. As it turned out, if you would have taken care of business, the path to your 8th title chance would have been a cake walk. With the exception of Michigan, DU was head and shoulders above any other team on that side of the bracket. With or without injuries.

Sioux are injured too. Grimaldi (who was slated as rookie of the yr preseason) was out all yr with an injury. Rodwell out half the year. O'Donell out half the yr. DU also didn't have the 15th pick in round 1 of the NHL draft bail on them right before the season. Now I agree those injuries don't compare to some of DU's BUT the Sioux are doing quite well on borrowed time. They have only suited 17 players for a number of weeks now. Pretty damn good for a rebuilding Sioux team. This is bonus time for Sioux fans who expected not to finish in the top 5 in the WCHA before the year. I fully expect the Goofs to win today, but a win today = Hakstol coach of the year. If we lose today, I guess we can use the injury excuse as well.

It's funny seeing the Goofers & Sue playing in a playoff game where everything is on the line. Stupid penalties can end your season. They can't head hunt, punch, facewash, cross check to the facemask & crash the net after the whistle like they usually do. Some of those guys are saying to each other, "wait till next year, mother effer...." lol

It's just so sad to see the Fighting Whiox get throttled by the Gophers and denied the Frozen Four. They are just great gentlemen, led by the classiest coach this side of South Dakota. Whatever shall I do??? Oh yeah, celebrate.

North Da Goona losing does take a bit of the sting out of our not going. Once again, their GOON COACH craps out. it couldn't happen to a bigger creep! He teaches goonism but it has never succeeded . Zero NCAA championships is what he has to show for his style of coaching

Very interesting. DU sweeps the Gophers this year. Gophers then throttle the Sue tonite, who lose "as usual when it really counts." Makes you really wonder what would have happened if DU had played the Sue with a healthy team a few days ago.

The Sue can go home and fill sand bags to save whatever is worth saving in Grand Forks. Remember Sue fans to save your women and cattle. The women have lipstick on in case you cant till the difference.

I know...Hakstol STILL with ZERO national championships! DU was eliminated too early this year, but at least Gwoz has won two national titles, both at North Dakota's painful expense. Karma is a bitch for Hakstol and his goonery. Couldn't have happened to a nicer group of people.

THE SIOUX SUCK! YES!!!!! Couldn't quite get it done, eh boys? Yes - we here in Denver know the feeling..... but, now - everything is right in the galaxy. We will see you green wearin' fools next year! I cannot wait for DU to play the sux; oops; I mean.. the Sue... again!!! HA! THIS IS AWESOME. I love Minnesota! Have a nice summer, Mr Hackstol. I feel like I just won the lottery. And guess what? D-rah, E-rah, N-rah E V R BOOM!!!!!!Could this Sunday end any better??? Thank you Jesus

It was nice to see UND slink out of the rink after getting a good spanking. Of course watching some of their antics driving guys into the ice and raking them with sticks, it was good to see them eat some humble pie.

I am praying that Barry Melrose prediction of a Union - BC Final does not come true. He is so smug that it is impossible to watch/listen to him.

Watching the UMD - BC game now in Worchester and wondering where the BC fans are...lot's of empty seats. Hard to believe because, next to Minnesota, they thought they invented the game up there.

The funny thing is how you guys don't realize that North Dakota fans don't really care about DU. They play in the same conference and that's about it. I doubt you watched any of the other games since DU wasn't playing but if you would have you would of seen the historic rivalries of the college game. DU was not on it, even with another conference member 60 miles down the road. Colorado is not taken seriously to the rest of the hockey world so keep talking because nobody is listening.

The BC fan in Denver guy was an interesting troll, probably some guy in the land of the Sioux. Boston obviously doesn't take Colorado seriously, that's why CC whiped their ass with BC during the regional last year. It would have been nice for UMD to follow it up. Pretty sure DU took care of business against BC this year too.

Gwoz is a great coach, but sorry to say kids...Hakstol is an elite coach in the same conversation with Gwoz. To bag on Hak because he has done everything but win a title and he has only been a coach 7 or 8 years is unreal.

Hakstol has taken the Sioux to the tourney every year, frozen four 5 times (I believe), and one title game which he lost to you guys in his first freaking season. Gwoz has been a head coach 20+ season...Hakstol has been a head coach 7 or 8 years. Hak will get his title. No need to worry about that.

I landed in Denver and thought I was in Grand Forks. That John Denver is full of shit! The mountains are beautiful, but Denver is next to the mountains. Not in the mountains. I am so jealous....I wish I had Colfax running through GF. Maybe I could troll for a hooker or maybe catch a bullet. We in GF are so jealous of Saudi Aurora!

1) Penn State already hired Guy Gadowsky as its coach. Gwoz isn't going anywhere. And D-I hoops coaches almost always make more than hockey coaches at the same school, as they have far less job security. UND might be an exception as a new full D-I school, but if they get serious about hoops. they will likely need to fork out 400K minimum for their hoops coach.

2) Don't even compare Grand Forks and Denver. There is a reason that thousands and thousands of North Dakotans and UND grads live here now, and not in North Dakota, despite your oil. Denver is a destination metro area of 3 million. Grand Forks is a metro of 100,000 people. Apples and Oranges.

3) North Dakota and DU were both very similar this year. Both had good stretch runs, but were a little tired out and banged up by the end - victims of being undermanned and thus unable to sustain the high level of play required to get to Tampa.

Denver is superior to GF. Having said that GF is a great college town. I am a Sioux fan that lives in Denver and we all need to chill out. I think we are all just bummed that the year is over and we have to wait until October to watch college hockey again.

I know the Sioux and Pios hate each other. Both teams are very well coached, and both teams are guilty for chipiness and hits from behind. Fact of the matter is that this is developing into a great rivalry which we will need to carry over to the NCHC!! Good luck to the Pios in the off season. I know you guys will reload like you always do!!

No chance of the NCAA incresing scholarship in a "male quasi-revenue" sports like ice hockey. I say "quasi-revenue" because a majority of programs break even or lose money.

The injury situation is very troubling to me. It's not just this season. Last year Jesse Martin broke his neck, the season before that DU had 7-9 off-season surgeries, the season before that was Tyler Bozak.

The Bennett injury was a fluke. It happened during practice and it was obviously a million to one situation.

IMO DU suffers more injuries because:a). Plays more games [Alaska exemption]b). Plays more close games [BC wins many more games by four goals].c). Falls behind in many games [more shifts for star players equals higher probability of injury].d). Physical play of WCHA.e). DU players block more shotsf). Plays NHL size rink vs Olympic rink.g). Great media/internet coverage means you hear about injuries more often than the old days.

Same story, different year - a bunch of kids who think that this is just a brief stop before they can take their Twitter careers to the NHL. No passion, no effort, same result. This program is being ruined by all these "top NHL draft picks" who are just looking for a place to be for a few years. There's no leadership and it shows.

Couldn't disagree more 11:00. (1) DU played with a tremendous amount of passion and effort just to make the tournament. (2) recruiting NHL draft picks, preferably first or second rounders, is essential to being a national contender.

All of these teams are elite programs that recruit blue chip NHL draft picks. The key lies in how you "fill-out" your roster. The roster must be filled out with Fulghams, Bulls, Ulanskis, Fosters, etc. They provide the needed depth and will be around for 4 years. These type players are the toughest to find because they are players that have been passed over by the elite programs and their stats are probably less than stellar.

It's almost like finding a needle in a haystack. 2005 was an example of finding about 6 needles in haystacks. But that's what the coaching staff needs to do if we are going to win a championship again.

One thing I think the coaching staff could do to hedge their bets a bit, is wait a little longer to give scholarship offers. Many times the best 15 and 16 year-olds don't turn out to be the best college players. We might end up missing out on a Zucker every now and then, but I think we might be able to have 4 Fulghams, Ulanskis, etc. instead. It's a risk, but would provide us with more overall depth so losing our top guys to injuries each year might not be as devastating.

For all the haters out there who keep throwing things out like no one likes Denver, you can't fill up your barn, etc...whoop de doo. OUR team is not playing for you, they're playing for Denver fans. So stop looking so damn pathetic for posting on another team's blog you plugs.

Congrats to Mr. Shore.We were better with you.Class act and now it's Florida's benefit.Regarding Mr Bennett, as I stated a few months previous,I saw a picture of the injury on this blog.Very basic ,the picture shows an open wound slightly above the wrist joint.This is a very narrow and sensitive part of arm/wrist.It looks as if he is on a training or medical table.Motion test , clean and close wound, MRI,surgery asap to minimize tendon retraction .6-8 week recovery.An assistant I know works at the hospital where he had sugery and indicated that his tendon needed grafting.Based on the timeline, injury Oct. surgery Dec.,that would make sense.the tendon had been retracting for over a month.Typical time frame, 3 months before rehab would begin ,6 months to a year for full strength. I can fully understand ,it would be season ending.Hope he will return for us next year.

Its not like DU has a team of doctors sitting over a Porter Hospital exclusively treating DU athletes.

When these players need surgery, they are sent to specialists all over Colorado and more often than not, its the same doctors who work on the Avs, Broncos, Nuggets, CU Buffalo players & professional skiers.

Almost every DU player has had or will have surgery. Corbin, Ostrow, Colbourne and countless others had mid-season surgeries to name a few.

Bozak's injury situation was "week to week" until he had surgery immediately after returning to Denver and they found the ruptured tendon. After the surgery it was announced as "3-4 months." So no misdiagnosis in that situation.

Jesse Martin had his hip repaired in Vail which is one of the best hospitals in the world.

Sam Brittain specifically chose not to have knee surgery because he didn't want to miss the opportunity to play for Team Canada. He made that decision and may or may not have kept DU in the loop on severity of the injury. Chambers described Brittain's version of events as "blurry."

At the end of the day, its one thing to recover from a surgery so you can go out and play 18 holes at the local links. Its another thing to step onto the ice and play college hockey.